New Publication Explores the Human Rights Data Revolution

Over the past decade, the development of DHRTTDs by national, regional, and international human rights entities has revolutionized the monitoring, implementation, reporting, and follow-up of human rights globally.

One noticeable gap however is the question of how United Nations (UN) and regional human rights mechanisms as well as national human rights actors could use digital technologies in their monitoring and implementation work. The publication explores this question, examining best practices and challenges faced by new and emerging information management tools developed by various human rights stakeholders, including the UN Secretariat, UN agencies, regional human rights mechanisms, national mechanisms for implementation, reporting and follow-up (NMIRFs), national human rights institutions (NHRIs), civil society organizations (CSOs) and academics worldwide.

'Our analysis underscores a significant transformation in the human rights landscape, driven by digital innovation. These tools offer a comprehensive solution for organizing and streamlining information, facilitating the implementation of international human rights standards and recommendations. This revolution not only caters to the operational needs of human rights monitoring bodies but also empowers national human rights systems in coordinating data collection, crucial in the face of growing recommendations from UN treaty bodies, special procedures mandate-holders, the Universal Periodic Review, and regional human rights mechanisms', explains Dr. Zipoli.

The publication delves into critical aspects that shape the performance of DHRTTDs, focusing on three themes: accessibility, sustainability, and interoperability. These elements are vital in ensuring that digital tools are not only developed but are effectively utilized and continue to serve their purpose over time.

Ensuring Accessibility and Inclusivity

Accessibility stands as a cornerstone in the digital human rights revolution. The briefing emphasizes the importance of making DHRTTDs universally accessible and user-friendly for all individuals, including for persons with disabilities. This involves adopting open, limited, and hybrid access models to balance the need for openness with the protection of sensitive information. Furthermore, web accessibility and language diversity are highlighted as critical for ensuring that DHRTTDs are inclusive and effective for a global audience.

Fostering Sustainability for Long-Term Impact

Sustainability concerns, such as data collection coordination, addressing staff turnover, and securing investment and funding, are pivotal in ensuring the long-term viability of DHRTTDs. The briefing illustrates the need for efficient data collection coordination and the development of robust mechanisms for managing and updating these tools. Ensuring sustainability involves strategic planning and collaboration among various stakeholders, including international organizations, NMIRFs, NHRIs and CSOs.

Enhancing Interoperability for Collaboration

Interoperability is crucial for enhancing synergy and collaboration among different DHRTTDs. By fostering cooperative initiatives among national and international human rights actors as well as automated interactions, such as via application programming interfaces (APIs), the briefing showcases how interoperability can lead to a more cohesive and effective human rights monitoring ecosystem. Knowledge-sharing events and platforms are also shown to play a significant role in disseminating best practices and fostering collaboration among developers and users of these tools.

This Briefing presents a comprehensive analysis of the current landscape and the future direction of human rights monitoring and implementation through digital means. By addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by digital technologies, the briefing outlines a path towards a more effective, inclusive, and collaborative human rights ecosystem. As the digital human rights revolution unfolds, it is crucial for all stakeholders to embrace these changes and work together to leverage the power of digitalization in advancing human rights globally. The briefing serves as a call to action, inviting the human rights community to integrate these digital tools and databases into their strategies, ensuring that the revolution not only advances but also transforms the way human rights are protected and promoted around the world.

'The community of human rights experts and human rights software developers is expanding, and our project remains dedicated to bringing these two groups closer together. Later in 2024, the GHRP plans to host specialized expert roundtables on interoperability, and on the capabilities and challenges of AI and machine learning in the context of human rights monitoring and implementation.', stresses Felix Kirchmeier, Executive Director of the Geneva Human Rights Platform.